Arrangement for the drive of a motor vehicle

Abstract

In order to be able to use a four-wheel drive of a motor vehicle for different vehicle types without significant changes, it is combined into a compact drive unit. For that purpose, a four-wheel-locking mechanism and a free-wheel device with by-pass clutch are arranged adjacent one another and coaxially to one another inside of a housing surrounding the same which is adapted to be flangedly connected to an axle housing of the motor vehicle.

We claim: 
     
       1. An arrangement for the drive of a motor vehicle, comprising a permanently operating four-wheel drive locking means arranged between a vehicle transmission and a rear axle drive connection and in front of the rear axle drive connection, free-wheeling means drivingly connecting the transmission with the rear axle drive connection as long as rear axle drive speed does not exceed transmission drive speed, an engageable by-pass clutch means for drivingly connecting the transmission to the rear axle drive connection as a by-pass drive of the free-wheeling means, and housing means for housing the drive arrangement, the four-wheel locking means and the free-wheeling means together with the by-pass clutch means being arranged adjacent to one another and coaxially to one another inside of the housing means surrounding the same, and the housing means being flangedly connected to an axle housing of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the drive arrangement is located adjacent one of the front axle or rear axle. 
     
     
       3. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is located in alignment with a longitudinal output shaft connection of the motor vehicle transmission to a front axle and a rear axle and wherein the housing means is flangedly connected to an axle housing of the rear axle. 
     
     
       4. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the by-pass clutch means includes two clutch disks provided with tooth means at end-faces thereof and wherein said tooth means are form-lockingly connected to ensure a drive there-between by engagement of an electromagnet means. 
     
     
       5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein one clutch disk of the by-pass clutch means is non-rotatable on a drive shaft, which drive shaft is rotatingly connected by way of the free-wheeling means with an input shaft of the four-wheel locking means, and wherein the other clutch disk is non-rotatably mounted relative to the input shaft. 
     
     
       6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the electromagnet means is secured at the housing means and is arranged with a lateral air gap in an end-face annular recess of the one clutch disk of the by-pass clutch means, and wherein the tooth means of the other clutch disk is forced into engagement with the tooth means of the one clutch disk by the electromagnetic means upon application of current to the electromagnet means. 
     
     
       7. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an output shaft of the four-wheel drive locking means is provided with a bevel pinion which together with a drive bevel gear forms an angle drive from the four-wheel drive locking means to the axle to be driven. 
     
     
       8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the output shaft is supported in a concentric bearing of a drive shaft leading from the transmission to the drive assembly and in conical roller bearings which are secured in a bearing sleeve flangedly connected to the axle housing. 
     
     
       9. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the four-wheel drive locking means includes a planetary gear means having planet carrier means and brake shoe means which rotate together with the planet carrier means to exert a braking moment on the planet carrier means at a brake drum of the housing means. 
     
     
       10. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the by-pass clutch means includes two clutch disks provided with tooth means at end-faces thereof and wherein said tooth means are form-lockingly connected to ensure a drive there-between by engagement of an electromagnet means. 
     
     
       11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein one clutch disk of the by-pass clutch means is non-rotatable on a drive shaft, which drive shaft is rotatingly connected by way of the free-wheeling means with an input shaft of the four-wheel locking means, and wherein the other clutch disk is non-rotatably mounted relative to the input shaft. 
     
     
       12. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the electromagnet means is secured at the housing means and is arranged with a lateral air gap in an end-face annular recess of the one clutch disk of the by-pass clutch means, and wherein the tooth means of the other clutch disk is forced into engagement with the tooth means of the one clutch disk by the electromagnetic means upon application of current to the electromagnet means. 
     
     
       13. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the four-wheel drive locking means includes a planetary gear means having planet carrier means and brake shoe means which rotate together with the planet carrier means to exert a braking moment on the planet carrier means at a brake drum of the housing means. 
     
     
       14. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the arrangement is located in alignment with a longitudinal output shaft connection of the motor vehicle transmission to a front axle and a rear axle and wherein the housing means is flangedly connected to an axle housing of the rear axle.